Alice Catherine Alice Catherine

I often refer to my style as somewhere between night and day. It’s that contrast of looks (that usually fit into their own neat boxes) that keeps fashion interesting to me. Am I on the way to a bar? Am I going hiking? Who the hell knows. In theory, the idea of teaming such a delicate satin skirt with some tough looking winter boots seems like a mistake, but it’s often these experimental mistakes that end up being some of my favourite outfits…

Satin skirts were with us all summer long, and show no sign of disappearing anytime soon – thank God, because I have a fair few of them in my wardrobe at this point. This one from Anine Bing is definitely the hero of my collection. I’ve worn it with so many different outfits, and it will be perfect around Christmas/New Years time too. I’d say that a skirt like this is definitely worth investing in for that reason alone – it means you always have something in your wardrobe to rely on when shit hits the fan (last minute invites roll in). Although, despite this ideology, I refuse to pine over that special occasion to wear my most special pieces. I invest in pieces that I really love, pieces that work for a number of looks and not just that black tie event that I ‘might get invited to one day’. Avoid having a wardrobe full of ‘one day’ pieces, and instead curate a wardrobe that works around everyday, no matter what lies ahead… 

Instead of scrolling the ASOS new in section and panic buying a bunch of stuff that you’ll only wear once – consciously invest in a piece that you really love, something you won’t get bored of. I’ve recently just treated myself to this new Realisation Par one  because I love the fit of their Naomi one that I bought this summer, and I just know I’ll wear it to death. I pretty much have my autumn/winter wardrobe down at this point, which doesn’t always happen! I’m quite content in a satin skirt, fluffy jumper, and some chunky ankle boots – that, and an Eighties style shoulder bag thrown in for good measure. It seems quite early for me to recommend investing in occasion/party-wear, but I promise you, you’ll be thanking your past self when December dawns, the shops become to busy to bare, and your social life has you dreaming about a day under the duvet – nursing left over Christmas chocolate and wondering who the hell you’re going to be in 2019… 

If you have a skirt like this in your collection – you’re always good to go for that last minute special occasion. Until that moment, wear it to take yourself for coffee, just because you can…

Of course, it’s bound to get too cold for skirts like this sometime real soon, but I just try and be strategic about when I choose to wear it. I’ve also found that taking a long coat is an easy way around bracing bare legs at this time of year – looks chic when you’re walking from place to place, and people are less likely to stare at your bare skin like you’re a crazy person. I haven’t tried it out with tights yet, so I can’t vouch on whether that’s a look, but I imagine some over the knee boots would also work if that’s your thing. I can’t seem to take over the knee boots seriously on myself without feeling like I’m wearing an over sexualised Halloween costume of some sort… 

A quick note on the jackets and boots before I leave you – if you’ve been considering these Grenson boots, then I whole heartedly recommend just going for it. Make the investment, or pop them on your Christmas wishlist. I wore them for the first time in New York (with a thick pair of socks) and they didn’t give me a single blister. After a couple of wears they are pretty much moulded to my feet! I love them so much, and I’d really love to get the dark brown style at some point too. Manchester can be bitterly cold and rainy during the winter months, so a pair of boots like this will never go to waste. I find them so much more comfortable than Dr Martens too – I’ve suffered through their break ins for years, and I feel like I’ve finally found the perfect substitute. Although this kind of hiking boot style is really in trend right now, I really don’t feel as though I ever get tired of boots like this…

This Mango jacket is a real dream too – the perfect autumnal colours, and matches so great with the gold tones in this skirt. However, boyyy does it itch me like hell without a long sleeve top underneath – so definitely don’t invest in this one without trying on with a few different top options first. I’ve found that a thin jumper is the perfect thing to wear underneath it anyway, so the itchy material hasn’t bothered me too much. Just something to bare in mind if you wanted to wear T-shirts underneath. Other than that little itchy detail, it’s been a dream to wear, and very much ties in with the whole ‘1940’s housewife turned woodchopper’ thing I have going on here…  


Photographs by Catherine Booty 

Jacket – Mango

Jumper – H&M (old/similar here)

Skirt – Anine Bing

Boots – Grensons

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3 Comments

  1. Zeta says:

    Hi Alice! I’m really loving this look! And I’ve been looking for these kind of boots, just because I want to be prepared if the winter gets rougher. Although I do have a question, are those boots as heavy as Docs? The weight is one of the reasons why I’m not a fan of Docs. Anyway, thank you so much!

    1. alicecatherine says:

      Thank you! And I struggle with that too but I find these are a happy medium – chunky shoes made from real leather tend to be heavy, but I walked around in these all day when I was in NYC and I wasn’t in pain xxx

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